Hundreds of protesters, mainly elderly women and nursing mothers from Jimrawa village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, staged a peaceful demonstration in the state capital, Gusau, over the insecurity situation in the area.
This followed a similar protest two weeks earlier by residents of Gusau LGA, who alleged that relentless daily bandits’ attacks had claimed over 100 lives in villages including Mada, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Lilo, and Bangi.
Kaura Namoda and several other local government areas in Zamfara had suffered repeated attacks by armed bandits, leaving dozens killed, abducted, property and livelihoods destroyed, and villages deserted.
Residents said the poor condition of roads in the state is aiding the bandits, as security personnel face serious challenges reaching the affected areas promptly.
The protesters from the Jimrawa community stormed the Government House in Gusau to demand urgent security intervention.
Jimrawa is one of six wards where by-elections are scheduled for August 16, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, worsening insecurity has made normal life impossible, with many residents reportedly in captivity, Daily Trust gathered.
Speaking during the protest, a resident, Maimuna Adamu, said some of their husbands were in bandits’ custody, which explained the large female turnout.
“We voted for Governor Dauda Lawal, but since he assumed office in May 2023, he has not fulfilled his promise to improve security,” she said.
Another protester, Auwalu Umar, tearfully recounted his loss: “They killed my father, mother, brothers, and sisters. I now live alone with no one to support or even advise me.”
An elderly protester, who declined to be named, added: “We won’t return home until we get assurance of our safety. Politicians only care about our votes, not our lives.”
Daily Trust had on Tuesday reported that bandits abducted 150 people in a series of attacks on several communities in Zamfara State over the past four days.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government, Mahmud Mohammed Dantawasa, confirmed the attacks to the BBC.
Residents of the affected communities said the heavily armed bandits carried out attacks over four days in villages including Sabon Garin Damri and Dakko Butsa (which borders Sokoto), as well as Tungar Abdu Dogo, Tungar Sarkin Daji, Sadeda, and Tungar Labi.
They said the bandits often strike at night or during rainfall, taking advantage of when people are asleep.
50 in bandits’ den, farming halted in Anka LGA
In Kadeddaba village, Anka LGA, residents said they have been forced out of their homes and farmlands due to constant attacks.
A resident, speaking to Daily Trust, said bandits were currently holding around 50 people hostage, including 42 recently abducted in nearby Sabon Gari village.
“My younger brother is among those kidnapped. We initially agreed on N500,000 ransom, but now they are demanding N2 million.
“There are security personnel stationed here, but they don’t engage the bandits, even though they know where they are.
“We’ve been stopped from farming. People are living in fear,” he lamented.
Bandits attack Bakura LGA
At least six people were reportedly killed and 45 others, mostly women and children, abducted in Bakura LGA of Zamfara State after an attack.
It was gathered that the armed bandits raided five communities-Sabongarin Damri, Sade, Tungar Tsalle, Tungar Musa Dogo and Tungar Sodangi, after they failed to pay the levies imposed on them by the bandits.
According to locals, the bandits invaded the affected communities in the night for the operation that lasted for almost one and a half hours.
“The bandits invaded the villages in the night, kidnapped women and children and also rustled cows. However, the cows they carted away were later recovered after members of the local vigilante engaged them in a gun fight while passing through a village.
“Also, three men out of the 45 persons abducted escaped from the bandits and returned to their families the following day. But the remaining kidnap victims are still in captivity,” a local in Sabongarin Damri said.
Daily Trust gathered that the operation was allegedly carried out by a notorious bandit leader popularly known as Black.
Black, it was learnt, is a known ruthless bandit kingpin, terrorising communities in Raba and Gandi areas of Sokoto state.
The terrorist is said to have a big camp in Sobubu, a thick forest that stretches from Bakura local government through Bukkuyum, Taki-Takwas and is linked to Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Another resident of Sabongarin Damri, who doesn’t want to be named, said: “What happened was that the bandits’ leader, Black, imposed levies on some communities, including Sabongarin Damri, and residents of the affected communities met and resolved that they should not pay the levies.
“However, leaders of some of the communities went behind us and settled their levies. So, when the time for payment elapsed, the bandits invaded the communities that had not paid and abducted people.
“So, it is a betrayal among the communities. We have all agreed that we will not pay the liveries, but unfortunately, some of us went and settled theirs. That’s what led to the attack.
“The bandits have specific targets this time around, and therefore, they went straight to the villages that have not settled their levies and raided them. It was unfortunate that six people lost their lives during the attack,” he said.
A member of the local vigilante group in Sabongarin Damri told our reporter that their intention was to confront the bandits when they came, but they did not receive intelligence about their coming
“When the communities in Bakura met, it was resolved that levies should not be paid; instead, we should wait for the bandits to come, unfortunately, some people deceived us. Even at that, had we gotten information of their coming ahead, we would have confronted them, but the bandits took us unawares,” he said.
Other incidents
January 2025: Bandits under the notorious kingpin, Dansuhu, imposed a N172 million protection levy on 25 villages in Tsafe West LGA. The levy, which also included demands for food supplies, forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes and farmlands in fear for their lives.
February 12: Residents of Maru LGA staged a protest after bandits abducted 31 individuals, including a local imam. The incident heightened tension in the area, with calls for stronger security intervention.
March 2: Five chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were kidnapped while travelling within Kaura Namoda LGA en route a senator’s residence.
April 9: Following the killing of warlord Dan Isuhu in a security operation, bandits launched retaliatory attacks in Tsafe LGA, killing two people and abducting over 60 others.
April 25: Suspected bandits loyal to the terror kingpin Dogo Gide attacked Gobirawa Chali, a mining village in the Dan Gulbi district. The house-to-house assault left at least 20 residents dead and dozens injured.
May 1–2: In a significant breakthrough, Nigerian Army troops neutralised several high-profile bandit leaders—including Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza- in coordinated operations in Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda LGAs. A large cache of weapons was recovered.
July 18: Bandits struck again in Talata Mafara LGA, killing nine people and abducting at least 15 others.
‘Bandits collected N56m to allow farming this year’
Farmers in Dan Isa district, Kaura Namoda LGA, said bandits have threatened them this rainy season.
Confirming the development to Daily Trust in a telephone conversation, the Ward Head of the area, Malam Hassan Yarima, said each of the 35 villages under his district paid N800,000 before residents were allowed to farm.
“Each village will also pay another N800,000 to allow its residents to harvest their crops. This is the agreement we have reached with the bandits’ leader in charge of this area, Dan Sadiya.
“I am only talking about my district; I don’t know what residents of other districts paid to the bandits this year. But one thing I am sure of is that residents have to pay before they are allowed to farm.
“We do not have any option but to comply with his directives; otherwise, the bandits will not allow us to cultivate our farms. At least when we farm, we can get something for our families,” he said.
However, Yarima lamented that despite paying the farming fees, bandits still invaded their villages to rustle livestock and loot food supplies.
He said residents of the affected communities had exhausted all their resources in efforts to maintain peace with the bandits.
“We want to live in peace with the bandits, but sincerely speaking, they have collected everything from us. They rustled our animals and carted away with our money, farm produce and other belongings.
“They visit our villages every week, and on every visit, we have to gather some money, foodstuffs and provisions items to give them. Sometimes, after collecting these items, they will pick some women and go with them,” he said.
Bandits kill 4, abduct over 30 in Sokoto
Armed Bandits have killed four persons and kidnapped over 30 others in separate attacks on villages in Dange Shuni and Tureta LGAs of Sokoto State.
The Chairman of Dange Shuni LGA, Aminu Boboi, on Thursday confirmed the abduction of at least 30 people in coordinated attacks on several villages.
“We have opened all the primary schools in Dange for them (the displaced persons) to sleep in because schools are currently on break,” Boboi said.
The affected villages include Dabagi, Asarara, Gudubi, Tafkin Kaiwa, and Fajandu. Twelve villagers were kidnapped in Dabagi, eight in Asarara, and nine in Tafkin Kaiwa.
In Fajandu, farmers abducted from their fields were released after paying a ransom of N5 million.
“We are currently in a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government, the Deputy Governor, and other security officials to address the situation. God willing, the displaced persons will return home soon,” he added.
A local government official, who requested anonymity, revealed that before the schools were opened for shelter, many of the displaced—mostly women and children—were sleeping at the Dange motor park and along roadsides.
Their husbands, he said, were hiding in the bushes for safety.
In Bimasa, Tureta Local Government Area, which is a few kilometres from Dange, residents reported a deadly overnight attack by armed bandits.
A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that gunmen invaded the town around 12:30 am on Thursday, killing four people and injuring one, who is currently hospitalised.
“They broke into shops and stole goods, including mobile phones,” the resident said, calling on the government to improve security in the area. “Once night falls, we can’t sleep peacefully.”
Ex-governor: I won’t campaign for Tinubu unless security improves
Former Governor of old Sokoto State and APC chieftain, Alhaji Yahya Abdulkareem, has declared that he cannot in good conscience campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 unless the security situation in the region significantly improves.
“I was among those who campaigned for Tinubu. But how can I go back and ask people to vote when they are suffering?
“If someone cannot farm, he cannot feed himself. And a hungry man cannot be expected to vote. The little food distributed by the governor—rice and other items—only lasts a day or two. That is not a solution,” he said in an interview with Daily Trust.
Katsina villages under attacks too
Several communities in Bakori and Faskari LGAs of Katsina State have been deserted following repeated attacks by armed bandits involving mass killings, abductions, and widespread cattle rustling.
Daily Trust had last week reported that over 5,000 residents displaced by the violence are currently taking refuge in Bakori town.
Some of the worst-hit villages include Guga, Anguwar Danmarka, Kandarawa, Anguwar Galadima, Gidan Sule, Gidan Chiwake, Gidan Dan Maye, Gidan Gagare, Gidan Sarkin Noma, and Gidan Nakuba.
Despite operations by security forces and local vigilantes, residents continue to live under the constant threat of violence.
These attacks are not new. In February 2022, Guga village in Bakori LGA came under attack, resulting in the death of eight people and the abduction of several others, including the village head. In another incident, 12 people were killed while 36 were kidnapped.
A year later, in February 2023, more than 40 lives were lost in violent clashes between bandits and vigilante groups following a major cattle rustling incident in the area.
In October 2024, bandits attacked a Mobile Police (Mopol) base in Garagi, Yartsamiyar Jino Village in Kankara LGA and killed four officers.
Five policemen lost their lives in an encounter with bandits in Jibia LGA after falling into an ambush. The incident happened in July 2024 while the officers were returning from their duty post in Zandam village to Jibia council headquarters.
In January 2025, 21 members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Baure village, Safana LGA. The victims were returning from a condolence visit when they were attacked.
Faskari LGA has also suffered devastating assaults. In June 2020, over 46 people, mostly elderly women and children, were killed during coordinated attacks on the Kadisau and Kabalawa communities.
Most recently, in July 2025, security forces neutralised 30 bandits who had attacked Kadisau, Raudama, and Sabon Layi. The operation, however, also resulted in casualties among security personnel and civilians.
Just last week, on Wednesday, gunmen struck again in Dutsinma LGA, abducting five people, including a prominent businessman, Alhaji Babangida Maigoro. Two of the victims managed to escape, while one of the attackers was reportedly killed by community members.
Dutsinma, which hosts a federal university, has witnessed multiple abductions in the past, including incidents targeting students.
Daily Trust gathered that only three frontline LGAs, Jibia, Batsari, and Danmusa, have existing peace agreements with bandits.
However, sources say these deals were made under duress, as residents had little choice but to yield to the criminals’ demands for survival.
Govt needs to re-strategise to end banditry – Security expert
A security expert, who preferred not to be mentioned, suggested that the government at both state and federal levels needs to re-strategise and adopt new measures on the ongoing fight against banditry in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger states.
The expert explained that the governments had applied both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in the crusade, yet the situation is getting out of control. So, I think the government should devise another way of addressing this problem.
“There must be problems along the line that need to be addressed first before getting to the root of this problem, and until and unless the government and indeed the affected communities work closely and address such problems, the banditry will not end soon.
“One of the major problems that needs to be tackled first is the issue of informants among the community; the government should set up a strong committee that will include security operatives, traditional and religious leaders, as well as youth comprising males and females, to start identifying informants in the worst-hit communities.
“The bandits largely depend on informants to get information which helps them succeed in their operation; therefore, by the time the government track those informants and cuts off their link with the bandits, the bandits won’t know anything about their targets and will not succeed in any operation they may intend to carry out.
“Government should also encourage the communities not to give up; rather, they should sit up and protect themselves through the support of the conventional security operatives. More troops should also be deployed to banditry-prone areas in the states where banditry is taking place.
“Operatives of the recognised vigilante groups in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states should be engaged in a series of training to equip them with modern techniques of handling the situation we have at hand. I observed that the local civilian JTF lacks training in fighting banditry, and unless they are trained in accordance with the present situation, we will not win the war,” he said.
DAILY TRUST.
